Thank you for your very prompt reply. Having been through British Railways management training program and been an operations manager on a busy commuter division out of London I do understand how railroads work. I agree it is not possible to make “everything connect to everything”. It should however be possible for three trains to connect in an otherwise empty station, and I can’t help but comment that someone dropped the ball in this instance.

If you are thinking of fixing this with a schedule change I’d like to strongly recommend that you consider joining up the AV and OC lines on weekends as run-through trains. I have to believe there is potential for good revenue generating discretionary travel between say Santa Clarita and the eastern San Fernando Valley stations and the Orange County attractions. This potential is greatly enhanced with a run through service compared to a connection. This would also be a good test of run through operation in general. Our group has always felt that there is too much emphasis on travel to and from Los Angeles at the expense of the convenience of the cross town traveller. We think Metrolink will be moresuccessful if you serve both markets, using run-through trains.

We’re trying to lure people from the convenience of their automobiles. This will make better use of the limited funds available. Thank you for your consideration of these issues.

PD

Bob Berger wrote:

Dear Mr. Dyson –

We have previously received your request by way of Board Members Najarian and Micheline back in August of this year to consider the 0840 a.m. arrival (Train 260) connecting with Amtrak Train 566. At that time staff committed to evaluating that request for the next schedule change. At the same time we will also evaluate your comments below. The TVM did not show the connection because it is less than 10″. I’m sure this issue can be resolved on the next schedule change.

While it appears obvious that any two trains should be able to connect with each other, when all the trains operated are considered it is not possible to make “everything connect to everything.” Staff works to make the best connection decisions based on passenger demand, equipment turns, crew turns, and infrastructure constraints. Thank you for being Metrolink’s “eyes and ears” and bringing this issue to our attention so that we may better serve our passengers.

I took myself to Burbank downtown station Saturday to go to the Buena Park opening. Noting that there is an8.45am departure on the Orange County line and an 8.40am arrival from Antelope Valley I figured either that the rolling stock runs through or that there is a connection.

Imagine my surprise when I tried to buy a ticket andfound that I was advised not to complete the purchase bcause “there is no train for more than three hours” and so my ticket would no longer be valid.

I called customer service from the pay phone and the helpful young man confirmed the train times but that this is not a guaranteed connection.

I’m at a loss to understand how, with only 60 trains running on a Saturday, and with such attractions as Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland as well as the beaches, you cannot make a run through train to Orange County or at least make sure that the AV line trains connect with both the San Bernardino and the OC trains. Please help me to understand this situation.

Related

The Rail Passenger Association of California & Nevada

Related

Rail Picture of the Day

This particular stretch of the Durango & Silverton is known as the “Cement Wall” with the track squeezed between the Animas River in the foreground and the immense rock cliff behind. The sun only reaches down here for a couple of hours each day. Here K28 #473 brings its mixed freight/passenger train upgrade towards the turnaround point of the day at Cascade, her big snowplow not needed on this unseasonably warm and snowless day. February 2015. Copyright 2015 by Lawrence Gross. All rights reserved.

Coming right at ya is the Shay Big 6. Clearly visible is the unusual
off-center left-side location of the boiler, which is counterbalanced by the
three cylinders and associated machinery on the right side of the
locomotive.
Cass Scenic Railroad, Cass, WV. May 2014.
Copyright 2015 by Lawrence Gross. All rights reserved.

The full moon is still clearly visible as Stock Extra 463 east pulls into
Chama from Durango.
Actually, the rails from Durango to Chama are long gone, leaving only this
stub track west of Chama as a remnant. But not a lot in this shot to say
that the year is 2014 instead of 40 or 50 years earlier.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama NM, August 2014.
Copyright 2015 by Lawrence Gross. All rights reserved.

Flashback.
Bright is certainly the word for these two Chessie System GP40’s, ready to
pull the Chessie Steam Special out of Baltimore.
A disappointing outcome for me, as you can see ex-Reading T-1 2101 in the
left distance, down for the count with a mechanical problem that morning,
forcing the diesel substitution. But was there ever a more flamboyant paint
scheme than the Chessie, with its neon colors and sleeping kitty silhouette?
October 1977.
Copyright 2015 by Lawrence Gross. All rights reserved.

A cold afternoon in Bartlett, NH. 0-6-0 CN #7470 has dropped its caboose in
the runaround track and is drilling cars for local industries in a scene
that was played out hundreds of times a day in hundreds of locations back in
the steam era.
January 2009.
Copyright 2015 by Lawrence Gross. All rights reserved.

The Canadian has arrived early into the division point of Hornepayne, ON so
#6409 cools its heels waiting for scheduled departure. Meanwhile, the
dispatcher has given the single track railroad to an intermodal train which
heads out in front of the passenger, the lead unit assisted by a Distributed
Power radio-controlled mate on the rear. Eventually, the DS tucked the
stacker into the siding down the line and we ran around it without delay.
February 2015.
Copyright 2015 by Lawrence Gross. All rights reserved.